Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine, offers a peaceful lakefront environment where you can lead a life-style far removed from the hectic pace of life, yet get an urban experience in nearby Portland. And it’s only a couple of hours drive from Boston.

Also known as Dry Pond, Crystal Lake covers 185 acres and has a mean depth of 25 feet with a maximum depth of 59 feet.

TheCrystal Lake Association (CLA) works to preserve the natural beauty and the water quality of the lake. The water is tested by Peter Throits of CLA in conjunction with the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program. Peter has reported that the water quality is above average, but as with any other natural system, it must be protected.

A couple of years ago the CLA developed the slogan “Go Green: Keep Crystal Lake Clean.” CLA members have been given “green” bags to go along with the slogan in hopes that as folks use the bags they’ll remember the many changes they can make to help improve the environment.

At the southern end of the lake on North Raymond Road is Wilkies Beach, a 300-foot beach, intended for town and summer residents. Season passes are available at the town office. The beach is officially open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is also a popular fishing site during the rest of the year. You’ll find a picnic area and public boat ramp (fee) at the beach. Courtesy Boat Inspectors help monitor boats to keep invasive species out of the lake. To date, no milfoil has been found, but the CLA does have a fund to fight the invasive species.Several years ago folks on the lake began sighting jelly-like masses attached to submerged tree branches. The masses looked similar to fish or frog eggs or insect larvae, but were actually none of these. Instead, they were Bryozoa, an underwater colony of tiny animals that filter nutrients from the water for their food. It’s believed that Bryozoa don’t exist in contaminated water and are indicators of good water quality.

Swimming, sunbathing, boating, fishing, snowmobiling and ice skating are just some of the activities folks enjoy at Crystal Lake. A trail leads from near the lake to the Libby Hill Forest. Mountain biking trails are accessible just a couple of miles up North Raymond Road at Morgan Meadows.Anglers will be happy to note that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been stocking brook, brown and rainbow trout since 1989. Bass, perch and pickerel are also frequently caught. During January, Crystal Lake is home to the Crystal Lake USO Ice Fishing Derby, which raises money for the armed forces. “We have fishing instruction that is open to the general public. Their sole job is to teach people who don’t know how to fish and teach kids,” event director Todd Bagetis, an officer in the US Coast Guard, recently told Portland Press Herald reporter Deirdre Fleming.

Check out Crystal Lake. Once you experience the serenity and natural beauty of this area, you’ll want to make this your place to return to year after year.